126 
any of the other three. These, however, are the ex- 
ceptions and not the rule. 
The drones seem to vary in color more than either 
the pure queens or workers ; the general marks are three 
very narrow stripes on the edge of the first three rings 
of the abdomen, where the workers have the black edge 
to the yellow bands ; also, some brown spots on the 
sides of the abdomen and on those parts of the first 
three rings where the workers have the yellow bands. 
The marks of the drones, like those of the workers 
change to a darker hue as they advance in age. 
CHANGING A STOCK OK COMMON BEliS TO 
ITALIANS. 
This is accomplished by removing the black queen, 
and substituting for her a fertile Italian queen. The 
queen being the mother of the whole colony, the in- 
crease of that variety cannot continue if she is removed, 
and the workers already there will gradually die off 
until all are gone. The Italian queen given to the 
colony instead, will commence laying almost as soon as 
she gets on the combs. Three weeks later her progeny 
begin to hatch, taking the place of those black workers 
that are dying from natural causes ; and in from four to 
six months, all the black bees will have died, and their 
places be filled by pure Italians. 
